154 FICTION

so scarce they would gain so spirited a partner
for the winter cotillions.

One morning maids returning from market
brought their mistresses wonderful news. Before
the Strangers house they had seen a shining car-
riage waiting, with a fine pair of horses in har-
ness, End a footman in rick livery at the step.
Then the door of the dreary old house had opened
and two elegantly clad gentlemen came out—first,
the old foreigner, and then none other than the
young Englishman* who had learned German
with such difficulty and who was said to be such
an entrancing dancer. Both entered the carriage,
the footman jumped on the box, and the equip-
age had driven straight to the house of the
mayor.

When the ladies heard this as told by their
maidsf they hastened to tear off their cooking
aprons and boudoir caps and dressed themselves
in state. "There is nothing more certain/* they
said to their families as they scurried about clean-
ing up their drawing rooms, "there is nothing
mo-re certain than that the Stranger is now in-
troducing his nephew to the world. For ten years
the old fool faasrt*t cared to set foot in our house,
but it must be pardoned him on account of his
nephew, who is said to be very attractive." Thus
they spoke, and warned their sons and daughters
to be on their best behaviour when the strangers
came; to stand up straight and to use choicer